District Court

First Judicial District Magistrates 

Notice of Recruitment

Magistrate Judge - Kootenai County

The Magistrates Commission of the First Judicial District is seeking applicants for a Magistrate Judge position to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of The Honorable Judge James Combo which opens on July 1, 2026. The position will be chambered in the Kootenai Courthouse in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  This position will handle all magistrate level case types and may cover cases in other counties within the First District.

To be appointed to the office of magistrate judge, a person must, at the time of appointment meet all the following qualifications:

• Be an elector of the state of Idaho;
• Be at least thirty (30) years of age;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment;
• Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment; and
• Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least five (5) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment.

Additionally, the appointed magistrate judge must reside in the county for which the appointment is made throughout the term of service as magistrate.

Appointees may be assigned to hear cases throughout the judicial district and may also be assigned outside the district by the Idaho Supreme Court.  The annual salary for the position of Magistrate Judge will be $164,508.00 plus state benefits.

Application forms are available on the Kootenai County Home Page here.

Lisa Chesebro
Trial Court Administrator
First Judicial District
Kootenai County Courthouse
501 Government Way, Lower Level
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814
Telephone: (208) 446-1217
e-mail: lchesebro@idcourts.net

All application materials for these positions must be received by the Trial Court Administrator of the First Judicial District at the address listed above no later than 5:00 p.m., PST, on March 11. Late applications will not be accepted!  Applications will not be accepted by FAX or E-Mail.

The State of Idaho is an equal opportunity employer and its employment practices conform to the requirements outlined in Title I and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Vacancies in the role of magistrate judge for Idaho's state courts are filled through an appointment process conducted by a district magistrates commission. Learn more about judicial vacancies and find links to Idaho statutes on this page.

Scammers Target Idaho Court Users

Scammers continue to target members of the public across Idaho with false claims about failing to appear for jury duty. The Idaho Judicial Branch would like to remind everyone that the state courts do not send a court summons, warrant for arrest, or request for court fees electronically. Potential jurors may receive electronic messages regarding jury duty if they have previously provided their contact information to the jury commissioner in their county. However, these messages will not ask for identification information or for the person to pay fees. Please click here for more information.